Night_stalker
Slava Ukraini!
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[x] Plan Enhanced Operative, Alliteration Edition
Cowls: A World of Supermen and Subterfuge
- Thread starter MJ12 Commando
- Start date
- Original
-
- Tags
- cyberpunk (punk)
Ridiculously Average Guy
I'm you, but stronger
- Location
-
I'm sad no one else is voting for my transparent Joseph Joestar expy.
Amorous Intent
Love the future
- Location
- Octavia, Venus
- Pronouns
- She/her
So, none of the powers actually imply that you don't need sleep. This suggests that some secondary powers exist that aren't stated, like Enhanced Physical Capability giving you extreme endurance. Let's look at the list of potential secondary powers that are suited to leadership:
Enhanced Intelligence:
None. Fortunately, the primary power is directly applicable, letting us make better and faster decisions.
Technopathy:
Implicit multitasking capability, but the primary power is pretty damn good at remote operation and support even without that.
Precognition:
Save scumming conversations like Max in Life is Strange and giving better orders when negative (or positive) consequences are immediately apparent, like stepping into a trap, triggering an alarm, or getting ambushed.
Teleportation:
Teleportation implies extremely good understanding of space, distances, and volume. That sort of knowledge is subtle when it comes to remote leadership, but helps with planning infiltration by looking at blueprints and being instantly able to comprehend the scale and direction involved, and can even be used to spot if something is wrong, like a corridor being too long for there not to be a secret room. Hell, it'd even be helpful for helping your less spatially gifted teammates navigate mazes, just by watching their helmet cams to build a mental map of the area.
Psychic Powers:
Telepathic net for secure communication with and between your minions, cutting out a large delay in your OODA loop by directly reading their sensory impressions, potentially even ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL if a problem needs your personal touch when you're sitting in the van.
Superhuman Speed:
Speed reading and speed thinking makes your OODA loop limited only by the speed your minions can understand your orders. You won't make better decisions, but you'll never have to act without being able to look over all of the information you have available.
Enhanced Physical Capabilities:
Enhanced reflexes also require enhanced timing, as you can no longer rely on reflexes for relatively slow things, like dodging unenhanced punches. Enhanced stamina and endurance implies remaining at the top of your game during marathon sessions supporting the team. Enhanced stamina also implies enhanced willpower, as willpower IRL draws off your blood sugar, much like your fast-twitch muscles. Enhanced willpower means keeping yourself under control and able to function even as the mission goes wrong and keeps going wrong.
Superhuman Charisma:
Morale problems are for mortals.
notthepenguins
Neither Spherical Nor Frictionless
- Pronouns
- He/She/They
EPC is pretty straightforward about being a Captain America expy, power-wise, so I think it's safe to assume it would contain his general set.
This is a Good Post (TM). Good Posts are nice and people should make more of them.
Prologue 2: Engage
- Location
- Australia
Prologue 2: Engage
The upper halls of the Syndicate's headquarters are cleaner, more sterile than the ones beneath them. It makes sense, you suppose; this is where the management works. Management always gets the best offices.
Things are eerily silent on the second floor, apart from the soft clanking of the AP32 units following behind you, and the faint hissing and pressing of their metallic limbs.
You hate it when things are silent. It never bodes well.
"Hey, Shamus," you mutter into your earpiece, as much to end the silence as to check what's going on. . He takes a few moments to respond, the faint crackling of white noise issuing through as you wait. "Shamus, are you there?"
Another moment passes, the hairs on the back of your neck rising, before his voice finally filters through the white noise. "Yes. Ah, sorry, Vector, I got a bit distracted. What do you need?"
"Would you mind doing a scan through the second floor for me? The blueprints indicated there was a security station somewhere close by on the third floor. Flamestrike hasn't done anything obvious yet, but-"
"Yes, yes," Shamus replies dismissively. "I'm well aware of all of Flamestrike's faults, trust me. Running the scan now."
"Thanks." You keep your voice low, just in case. A few moments pass, and the damned silence continues. "Do you have eyes on Flamestrike?"
"I do." Irritation is creeping into his voice, but you can't tell if it's aimed at you or the veteran accompanying the two of you. "Flamestrike is approaching the hostile's position now. Approximately one minute until engagement. Please prepare."
It's hard to stifle the eyeroll the faux-military jargon causes, but you manage, and even manage to reply without undue sarcasm, "Understood. I'll make sure my unit is prepared." The crackling in your ear abruptly ends as Shamus severs the connection on his end.
Rude.
Letting out an aggravated sigh, you turn to the machines behind you. They don't acknowledge your look at all, but you know they're listening. You could give them orders via HUD but somehow it feels better to talk right now. "Alright." Your thoughts whirl. "AP32's, prepare for hostile engagement as we move forwards. We-"
Abruptly, the floor beneath you shakes, and there is a muffled roar. The humanoid combat robots shift their weight near-instantaneously with the faint whine of servos. You sway slightly, infinitesimally, your balance just as perfect.
"Vector!" Shamus abruptly yells into your ear, evidently having reestablished the link between the two of you. "Be advised, Flamestrike has engaged the Immolator ahead of schedule, and has not stuck to advised stealth protocols. Multiple hostiles are converging from the third floor. Damn it, what are-" He cuts off with a grunt of frustration.
Well.
That's definitely not according to plan. You immediately leap into action. "AP32s, weapons hot." Your voice is calm, assured- you hope.There's a faint click-too faint for human hearing-as the mechanisms of their weapons unsafe.
You're not overly worried, of course. AP32 units might not be top of the line, but they're certainly well-designed enough to take out squads of regular security, especially when supported by a superhuman such as yourself. But whatever's in this base might rate more than regular security.
"Vector, there's hostiles up ahead." Shamus says. "Look at their gear. They're just standard corporate security. Take a look." In your HUD, they're wearing white hardshell armor, wielding assault shotguns with underbarrel submachine guns. You're familiar with the design- dual feed, one magazine full of lethal fragmenting rounds, the other filled with nonlethal stun bombs. Their faces are covered with reflective visors. Professional, but not truly deadly.
Your thoughts spin around in circles for a moment before you finally begin snapping out orders. "AP32s! Engage hostiles immediately!"
[] How did you prepare your machines for hostile engagements?
[ ] How are you going to approach this engagement? Note that the top 3 traits will be used to build your character's career traits and backstory, even if only the most popular one decides how the actual engagement will go. Again, these traits will play a larger role in your leadership style and the agents you have in the future, so keep in mind that it's not just about this engagement (in fact, they're of about equal effectiveness in this engagement).
The upper halls of the Syndicate's headquarters are cleaner, more sterile than the ones beneath them. It makes sense, you suppose; this is where the management works. Management always gets the best offices.
Things are eerily silent on the second floor, apart from the soft clanking of the AP32 units following behind you, and the faint hissing and pressing of their metallic limbs.
You hate it when things are silent. It never bodes well.
"Hey, Shamus," you mutter into your earpiece, as much to end the silence as to check what's going on. . He takes a few moments to respond, the faint crackling of white noise issuing through as you wait. "Shamus, are you there?"
Another moment passes, the hairs on the back of your neck rising, before his voice finally filters through the white noise. "Yes. Ah, sorry, Vector, I got a bit distracted. What do you need?"
"Would you mind doing a scan through the second floor for me? The blueprints indicated there was a security station somewhere close by on the third floor. Flamestrike hasn't done anything obvious yet, but-"
"Yes, yes," Shamus replies dismissively. "I'm well aware of all of Flamestrike's faults, trust me. Running the scan now."
"Thanks." You keep your voice low, just in case. A few moments pass, and the damned silence continues. "Do you have eyes on Flamestrike?"
"I do." Irritation is creeping into his voice, but you can't tell if it's aimed at you or the veteran accompanying the two of you. "Flamestrike is approaching the hostile's position now. Approximately one minute until engagement. Please prepare."
It's hard to stifle the eyeroll the faux-military jargon causes, but you manage, and even manage to reply without undue sarcasm, "Understood. I'll make sure my unit is prepared." The crackling in your ear abruptly ends as Shamus severs the connection on his end.
Rude.
Letting out an aggravated sigh, you turn to the machines behind you. They don't acknowledge your look at all, but you know they're listening. You could give them orders via HUD but somehow it feels better to talk right now. "Alright." Your thoughts whirl. "AP32's, prepare for hostile engagement as we move forwards. We-"
Abruptly, the floor beneath you shakes, and there is a muffled roar. The humanoid combat robots shift their weight near-instantaneously with the faint whine of servos. You sway slightly, infinitesimally, your balance just as perfect.
"Vector!" Shamus abruptly yells into your ear, evidently having reestablished the link between the two of you. "Be advised, Flamestrike has engaged the Immolator ahead of schedule, and has not stuck to advised stealth protocols. Multiple hostiles are converging from the third floor. Damn it, what are-" He cuts off with a grunt of frustration.
Well.
That's definitely not according to plan. You immediately leap into action. "AP32s, weapons hot." Your voice is calm, assured- you hope.There's a faint click-too faint for human hearing-as the mechanisms of their weapons unsafe.
You're not overly worried, of course. AP32 units might not be top of the line, but they're certainly well-designed enough to take out squads of regular security, especially when supported by a superhuman such as yourself. But whatever's in this base might rate more than regular security.
"Vector, there's hostiles up ahead." Shamus says. "Look at their gear. They're just standard corporate security. Take a look." In your HUD, they're wearing white hardshell armor, wielding assault shotguns with underbarrel submachine guns. You're familiar with the design- dual feed, one magazine full of lethal fragmenting rounds, the other filled with nonlethal stun bombs. Their faces are covered with reflective visors. Professional, but not truly deadly.
Your thoughts spin around in circles for a moment before you finally begin snapping out orders. "AP32s! Engage hostiles immediately!"
[] How did you prepare your machines for hostile engagements?
[ ] Your combat robots have been reinforced with armor jackets and heavy ceramic plating, carrying boxy black guns firing thick fat shells. The magazines are red-banded, explosive rounds, capable of maiming you or any other physical enhanciles. They're banned as war crimes-not that anyone follows those rules anymore.
[ ] Your machines are running 'clean,' white plastic plating and exposed servos. They're using standard security weapons-solid-core ammunition, good against soft targets and against robots with good enough aim. You're not expecting too much trouble here, but you want firepower in case that happens.
[ ] This is supposed to be quiet and non-lethal, a raid rather than an assault. They've been clad in sound-dampening fabrics and are loaded with shotguns and "riot control" submachine guns-electrical stun rounds. You're secretly glad-you don't want anyone to get hurt when it isn't necessary.
[ ] Your machines are running 'clean,' white plastic plating and exposed servos. They're using standard security weapons-solid-core ammunition, good against soft targets and against robots with good enough aim. You're not expecting too much trouble here, but you want firepower in case that happens.
[ ] This is supposed to be quiet and non-lethal, a raid rather than an assault. They've been clad in sound-dampening fabrics and are loaded with shotguns and "riot control" submachine guns-electrical stun rounds. You're secretly glad-you don't want anyone to get hurt when it isn't necessary.
[ ] How are you going to approach this engagement? Note that the top 3 traits will be used to build your character's career traits and backstory, even if only the most popular one decides how the actual engagement will go. Again, these traits will play a larger role in your leadership style and the agents you have in the future, so keep in mind that it's not just about this engagement (in fact, they're of about equal effectiveness in this engagement).
[ ] I might be physically enhanced, but I've always been more of a leader than a frontline type. I order the AP32s in first to draw fire via my data glove and command them as I take out targets of opportunity. They're expendable, the team is not. And I'm skilled enough that I can manage them better than their hive-mind AI can. (Strategist)
[ ] Back in Grenada, I was point man for a Ranger team. The gun in my hands is familiar from those days-a special forces Varigun-with settings from 'plain old bullets' to 'mini-rockets' to plasma flashbangs and 'sonic riot control.' I switch it to (high-explosive swarmers/5-millimeter slugs/nonlethal riot control) and open up on the Syndicate soldiers. (Ex-Military)
[ ] My employers have given me this nice artificial muscle suit-boosting my strength and durability even further than normal. It runs hot-too hot for normal people, and even my enhanced physiology is sweating as I push it to the limits, but in a blink of an eye I'm in the midst of the enemy formation, and I draw my (vibrosword/impact baton/stun stick). When you're as skilled and enhanced as I am, never bring a gun to a knife fight. (Martial Artist)
[ ] They wanted me here to replace their combat medic-and I am a trained bioengineer. We've all been inoculated against the chemical weapons I'm about to deploy. I unlimber the magnetic grenade launcher from my back, load in a magazine of (nerve gas/sleeping gas/riot agent) and start emptying the magazines. Even if they're wearing NBC gear, any damage to that will make them vulnerable. (Biotech Expert)
[ ] I'm a combat engineer, of course. That means they gave me the finicky weapons that require constant monitoring to use right. Like this variable-lethality plasma caster. It's rare to find someone with the technical capabilities to make use of it and the physique to carry the 30-kilo blaster, but here I am. (Engineer)
[ ] Back in Grenada, I was point man for a Ranger team. The gun in my hands is familiar from those days-a special forces Varigun-with settings from 'plain old bullets' to 'mini-rockets' to plasma flashbangs and 'sonic riot control.' I switch it to (high-explosive swarmers/5-millimeter slugs/nonlethal riot control) and open up on the Syndicate soldiers. (Ex-Military)
[ ] My employers have given me this nice artificial muscle suit-boosting my strength and durability even further than normal. It runs hot-too hot for normal people, and even my enhanced physiology is sweating as I push it to the limits, but in a blink of an eye I'm in the midst of the enemy formation, and I draw my (vibrosword/impact baton/stun stick). When you're as skilled and enhanced as I am, never bring a gun to a knife fight. (Martial Artist)
[ ] They wanted me here to replace their combat medic-and I am a trained bioengineer. We've all been inoculated against the chemical weapons I'm about to deploy. I unlimber the magnetic grenade launcher from my back, load in a magazine of (nerve gas/sleeping gas/riot agent) and start emptying the magazines. Even if they're wearing NBC gear, any damage to that will make them vulnerable. (Biotech Expert)
[ ] I'm a combat engineer, of course. That means they gave me the finicky weapons that require constant monitoring to use right. Like this variable-lethality plasma caster. It's rare to find someone with the technical capabilities to make use of it and the physique to carry the 30-kilo blaster, but here I am. (Engineer)
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[x] This is supposed to be quiet and non-lethal, a raid rather than an assault. They've been clad in sound-dampening fabrics and are loaded with shotguns and "riot control" submachine guns-electrical stun rounds. You're secretly glad-you don't want anyone to get hurt when it isn't necessary.
[x] I'm a combat engineer, of course. That means they gave me the finicky weapons that require constant monitoring to use right. Like this variable-lethality plasma caster. It's rare to find someone with the technical capabilities to make use of it and the physique to carry the 30-kilo blaster, but here I am. (Engineer)
[x] I'm a combat engineer, of course. That means they gave me the finicky weapons that require constant monitoring to use right. Like this variable-lethality plasma caster. It's rare to find someone with the technical capabilities to make use of it and the physique to carry the 30-kilo blaster, but here I am. (Engineer)
- Location
- in the trash
[X] My employers have given me this nice artificial muscle suit-boosting my strength and durability even further than normal. It runs hot-too hot for normal people, and even my enhanced physiology is sweating as I push it to the limits, but in a blink of an eye I'm in the midst of the enemy formation, and I draw my (vibrosword/impact baton/stunstick). When you're as skilled and enhanced as I am, never bring a gun to a knife fight. (Martial Artist)
TELEPORT KUNG FUUUUU
Look, this is objectively the best option. It synergises very well with both of our powers. Martial arts means we have skill and finesse as well as strength and reflexes when it comes to melee. Which means that if we can get into melee range we'll utterly destroy most opponents, and have an edge against other physical enhanciles. And of course, we have teleport, which lets us get into melee range easy and we're probably also immune to normal bullets which should let us just charge through fire to get into range in the event that we can't teleport for some reason.
[X] Your combat robots have been reinforced with armor jackets and heavy ceramic plating, carrying boxy black guns firing thick fat shells. The magazines are red-banded, explosive rounds, capable of maiming you or any other physical enhanciles. They're banned as war crimes-not that anyone follows those rules anymore.
Well look the Syndicate never signed the Geneva Convention so there
I'm assuming this vote means we're taking the vibrosword option in the earlier vote and I totally want a vibrosword.
Also going in heavy implies that whatever foes we might be facing later on will be proportionally stronger, which should make for a more intense and interesting fight.
TELEPORT KUNG FUUUUU
Look, this is objectively the best option. It synergises very well with both of our powers. Martial arts means we have skill and finesse as well as strength and reflexes when it comes to melee. Which means that if we can get into melee range we'll utterly destroy most opponents, and have an edge against other physical enhanciles. And of course, we have teleport, which lets us get into melee range easy and we're probably also immune to normal bullets which should let us just charge through fire to get into range in the event that we can't teleport for some reason.
[X] Your combat robots have been reinforced with armor jackets and heavy ceramic plating, carrying boxy black guns firing thick fat shells. The magazines are red-banded, explosive rounds, capable of maiming you or any other physical enhanciles. They're banned as war crimes-not that anyone follows those rules anymore.
Well look the Syndicate never signed the Geneva Convention so there
I'm assuming this vote means we're taking the vibrosword option in the earlier vote and I totally want a vibrosword.
Also going in heavy implies that whatever foes we might be facing later on will be proportionally stronger, which should make for a more intense and interesting fight.
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Amorous Intent
Love the future
- Location
- Octavia, Venus
- Pronouns
- She/her
[X] This is supposed to be quiet and non-lethal, a raid rather than an assault. They've been clad in sound-dampening fabrics and are loaded with shotguns and "riot control" submachine guns-electrical stun rounds. You're secretly glad-you don't want anyone to get hurt when it isn't necessary.
The only way to earn the rank of Big Boss is to go non-lethal.
[X] I might be physically enhanced, but I've always been more of a leader than a frontline type. I order the AP32s in first to draw fire via my data glove and command them as I take out targets of opportunity. They're expendable, the team is not. And I'm skilled enough that I can manage them better than their hive-mind AI can. (Strategist)
I dearly want the Martial Artist shtick, but we need Strategist to keep us well-rounded as a leader with our build.
The only way to earn the rank of Big Boss is to go non-lethal.
[X] I might be physically enhanced, but I've always been more of a leader than a frontline type. I order the AP32s in first to draw fire via my data glove and command them as I take out targets of opportunity. They're expendable, the team is not. And I'm skilled enough that I can manage them better than their hive-mind AI can. (Strategist)
I dearly want the Martial Artist shtick, but we need Strategist to keep us well-rounded as a leader with our build.
notthepenguins
Neither Spherical Nor Frictionless
- Pronouns
- He/She/They
Alright, looking these over...
[ ] I might be physically enhanced, but I've always been more of a leader than a frontline type. I order the AP32s in first to draw fire via my data glove and command them as I take out targets of opportunity. They're expendable, the team is not. And I'm skilled enough that I can manage them better than their hive-mind AI can. (Strategist)
Man, I really want this one. Smarts are great, and strategy is excellent for a leadership position. This is hands-down the most useful for our position, I think, especially when our teleportation + super soldier powerset makes us incredibly useful when positioned correctly (and easy to position correctly). If this isn't one of the top three I will be a sad, sad, nega-penguin.
[ ] Back in Grenada, I was point man for a Ranger team. The gun in my hands is familiar from those days-a special forces Varigun-with settings from 'plain old bullets' to 'mini-rockets' to plasma flashbangs and 'sonic riot control.' I switch it to (high-explosive swarmers/5-millimeter slugs/nonlethal riot control) and open up on the Syndicate soldiers. (Ex-Military)
Military history is good, though I'm neutral on the 'snazzy gun with settings' option; it's useful, but doesn't wow me. Still, I like this for backstory reasons, it fits with the general super soldier serum motif and the disdain for the faux-military jargon.
[ ] My employers have given me this nice artificial muscle suit-boosting my strength and durability even further than normal. It runs hot-too hot for normal people, and even my enhanced physiology is sweating as I push it to the limits, but in a blink of an eye I'm in the midst of the enemy formation, and I draw my (vibrosword/impact baton/stun stick). When you're as skilled and enhanced as I am, never bring a gun to a knife fight. (Martial Artist)
Yesss. Okay, this is the super cool one, and it leverages our strengths excellently. That said, a lot depends on the specifics, and it risks pigeonholing us. @Tempera, should we take the "even my enhanced physiology is sweating as I push it to the limits" line as a confirmation that we will have to ration our use of it carefully? What kind of durability boost does this give us, bullet-resistant, laugh-off-bullets, throw-down-with-powered-bruisers?
[ ] They wanted me here to replace their combat medic-and I am a trained bioengineer. We've all been inoculated against the chemical weapons I'm about to deploy. I unlimber the magnetic grenade launcher from my back, load in a magazine of (nerve gas/sleeping gas/riot agent) and start emptying the magazines. Even if they're wearing NBC gear, any damage to that will make them vulnerable. (Biotech Expert)
This is unquestionably useful, but doesn't really call to me. Still, to analyze: this makes us an awesome scientist, and from the medic = bioengineer, I'm assuming that means comic book superscientist. Provides us with a lot of nonlethal weapons, probably opens up combat drugs, and medics.
[ ] I'm a combat engineer, of course. That means they gave me the finicky weapons that require constant monitoring to use right. Like this variable-lethality plasma caster. It's rare to find someone with the technical capabilities to make use of it and the physique to carry the 30-kilo blaster, but here I am. (Engineer)
Comic book techie instead. Pretty nice, but also doesn't call to me. Very useful, especially since the AP32s are robots, and seem to be standard -- means that we'll have a bevy of options to modify, maintain, or repair our normal troops, as well as snazzy custom weapons. Very possibly combat-time gizmos, too.
[ ] I might be physically enhanced, but I've always been more of a leader than a frontline type. I order the AP32s in first to draw fire via my data glove and command them as I take out targets of opportunity. They're expendable, the team is not. And I'm skilled enough that I can manage them better than their hive-mind AI can. (Strategist)
Man, I really want this one. Smarts are great, and strategy is excellent for a leadership position. This is hands-down the most useful for our position, I think, especially when our teleportation + super soldier powerset makes us incredibly useful when positioned correctly (and easy to position correctly). If this isn't one of the top three I will be a sad, sad, nega-penguin.
[ ] Back in Grenada, I was point man for a Ranger team. The gun in my hands is familiar from those days-a special forces Varigun-with settings from 'plain old bullets' to 'mini-rockets' to plasma flashbangs and 'sonic riot control.' I switch it to (high-explosive swarmers/5-millimeter slugs/nonlethal riot control) and open up on the Syndicate soldiers. (Ex-Military)
Military history is good, though I'm neutral on the 'snazzy gun with settings' option; it's useful, but doesn't wow me. Still, I like this for backstory reasons, it fits with the general super soldier serum motif and the disdain for the faux-military jargon.
[ ] My employers have given me this nice artificial muscle suit-boosting my strength and durability even further than normal. It runs hot-too hot for normal people, and even my enhanced physiology is sweating as I push it to the limits, but in a blink of an eye I'm in the midst of the enemy formation, and I draw my (vibrosword/impact baton/stun stick). When you're as skilled and enhanced as I am, never bring a gun to a knife fight. (Martial Artist)
Yesss. Okay, this is the super cool one, and it leverages our strengths excellently. That said, a lot depends on the specifics, and it risks pigeonholing us. @Tempera, should we take the "even my enhanced physiology is sweating as I push it to the limits" line as a confirmation that we will have to ration our use of it carefully? What kind of durability boost does this give us, bullet-resistant, laugh-off-bullets, throw-down-with-powered-bruisers?
[ ] They wanted me here to replace their combat medic-and I am a trained bioengineer. We've all been inoculated against the chemical weapons I'm about to deploy. I unlimber the magnetic grenade launcher from my back, load in a magazine of (nerve gas/sleeping gas/riot agent) and start emptying the magazines. Even if they're wearing NBC gear, any damage to that will make them vulnerable. (Biotech Expert)
This is unquestionably useful, but doesn't really call to me. Still, to analyze: this makes us an awesome scientist, and from the medic = bioengineer, I'm assuming that means comic book superscientist. Provides us with a lot of nonlethal weapons, probably opens up combat drugs, and medics.
[ ] I'm a combat engineer, of course. That means they gave me the finicky weapons that require constant monitoring to use right. Like this variable-lethality plasma caster. It's rare to find someone with the technical capabilities to make use of it and the physique to carry the 30-kilo blaster, but here I am. (Engineer)
Comic book techie instead. Pretty nice, but also doesn't call to me. Very useful, especially since the AP32s are robots, and seem to be standard -- means that we'll have a bevy of options to modify, maintain, or repair our normal troops, as well as snazzy custom weapons. Very possibly combat-time gizmos, too.
ZerbanDaGreat
Daemon Noble of D E M O G R A P H I C S
- Pronouns
- They/them
"Flamestrike" versus "The Immolator" in a confined space. Yeah this sounds like a recipe for only good things.
[X] This is supposed to be quiet and non-lethal, a raid rather than an assault. They've been clad in sound-dampening fabrics and are loaded with shotguns and "riot control" submachine guns-electrical stun rounds. You're secretly glad-you don't want anyone to get hurt when it isn't necessary.
Non-lethal is always the superior way to roll, especially as a superhero. Double-especially for a sneaking mission. There's a reason nobody talks about Splinter Cell: Convicted Mark-And-Mass-Murder-er.
[X] My employers have given me this nice artificial muscle suit-boosting my strength and durability even further than normal. It runs hot-too hot for normal people, and even my enhanced physiology is sweating as I push it to the limits, but in a blink of an eye I'm in the midst of the enemy formation, and I draw my (vibrosword/impact baton/stun stick). When you're as skilled and enhanced as I am, never bring a gun to a knife fight. (Martial Artist)
I'm sorry, I'm just a sucker for muscle-suits. Maximum Strength.
[X] This is supposed to be quiet and non-lethal, a raid rather than an assault. They've been clad in sound-dampening fabrics and are loaded with shotguns and "riot control" submachine guns-electrical stun rounds. You're secretly glad-you don't want anyone to get hurt when it isn't necessary.
Non-lethal is always the superior way to roll, especially as a superhero. Double-especially for a sneaking mission. There's a reason nobody talks about Splinter Cell: Convicted Mark-And-Mass-Murder-er.
[X] My employers have given me this nice artificial muscle suit-boosting my strength and durability even further than normal. It runs hot-too hot for normal people, and even my enhanced physiology is sweating as I push it to the limits, but in a blink of an eye I'm in the midst of the enemy formation, and I draw my (vibrosword/impact baton/stun stick). When you're as skilled and enhanced as I am, never bring a gun to a knife fight. (Martial Artist)
I'm sorry, I'm just a sucker for muscle-suits. Maximum Strength.
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- Location
- Australia
You will have to ration your use of it, yes. It's possible the suit could eventually be further improved, but right now you don't have near enough money for that.
The durability boost the suit gives you is well into the 'laugh of bullets' range, so long as they're regular bullets. It won't fare so well against, say, tank rounds or rounds from a high-powered sniper rifle, and nor will it fare so well against the kind of weaponry your AP32 units might be fitted with.
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- Location
- in the trash
Well if I could have my pick of three options, I would personally go for: Martial Artist, Strategist, and either Biotech Expert or Engineer.
Martial Artist because as I mentioned above it just complements our current powerset so well it'd be a crime not to take it, Strategist because as mentioned we don't want to pigeonhole ourselves too much and it's a useful skill for someone in a leadership role. For the third option either Engineer or Biotech would expand our non-combat skills further, though I'd lean a bit more towards Biotech; maybe we developed the supersoldier serum ourselves?
Actually, being a medic actually works fairly well with our powerset too; teleport lets us get to the wounded ASAP, and our enhanced survivability from the supersoldier serum reduces the likelihood of us getting taken out of action first.
Military is kind of eh; there's some nice parallels to Captain America, as far as background things go, but who needs a gun when you have kung fu, superhuman strength, and teleportation? And it doesn't offer much outside of fighting.
Martial Artist because as I mentioned above it just complements our current powerset so well it'd be a crime not to take it, Strategist because as mentioned we don't want to pigeonhole ourselves too much and it's a useful skill for someone in a leadership role. For the third option either Engineer or Biotech would expand our non-combat skills further, though I'd lean a bit more towards Biotech; maybe we developed the supersoldier serum ourselves?
Actually, being a medic actually works fairly well with our powerset too; teleport lets us get to the wounded ASAP, and our enhanced survivability from the supersoldier serum reduces the likelihood of us getting taken out of action first.
Military is kind of eh; there's some nice parallels to Captain America, as far as background things go, but who needs a gun when you have kung fu, superhuman strength, and teleportation? And it doesn't offer much outside of fighting.
[X] This is supposed to be quiet and non-lethal, a raid rather than an assault. They've been clad in sound-dampening fabrics and are loaded with shotguns and "riot control" submachine guns-electrical stun rounds. You're secretly glad-you don't want anyone to get hurt when it isn't necessary.
[X] My employers have given me this nice artificial muscle suit-boosting my strength and durability even further than normal. It runs hot-too hot for normal people, and even my enhanced physiology is sweating as I push it to the limits, but in a blink of an eye I'm in the midst of the enemy formation, and I draw my (vibrosword/impact baton/stun stick). When you're as skilled and enhanced as I am, never bring a gun to a knife fight. (Martial Artist)
[X] My employers have given me this nice artificial muscle suit-boosting my strength and durability even further than normal. It runs hot-too hot for normal people, and even my enhanced physiology is sweating as I push it to the limits, but in a blink of an eye I'm in the midst of the enemy formation, and I draw my (vibrosword/impact baton/stun stick). When you're as skilled and enhanced as I am, never bring a gun to a knife fight. (Martial Artist)
It offers you useful contacts if you need to hire, say, military veterans. Or if you need a rocket launcher or two to 'fall off the back of the truck.'
Contacts in the military, actual training, discipline, which is always useful and knowledge of standard military operating procedure. Come on, use your imagination.
[X] This is supposed to be quiet and non-lethal, a raid rather than an assault. They've been clad in sound-dampening fabrics and are loaded with shotguns and "riot control" submachine guns-electrical stun rounds. You're secretly glad-you don't want anyone to get hurt when it isn't necessary.
Quiet and non-lethal is good. It also implies a certain degree of restraint and morality.
[X] I might be physically enhanced, but I've always been more of a leader than a frontline type. I order the AP32s in first to draw fire via my data glove and command them as I take out targets of opportunity. They're expendable, the team is not. And I'm skilled enough that I can manage them better than their hive-mind AI can. (Strategist)
This is almost necessary - we've got the physical abilities and teleportation, which makes us a solid combatant, and strategist covers the social and mental parts as well.
- Location
- Spain
[X] My employers have given me this nice artificial muscle suit-boosting my strength and durability even further than normal. It runs hot-too hot for normal people, and even my enhanced physiology is sweating as I push it to the limits, but in a blink of an eye I'm in the midst of the enemy formation, and I draw my (vibrosword/impact baton/stun stick). When you're as skilled and enhanced as I am, never bring a gun to a knife fight. (Martial Artist)
[X] Your combat robots have been reinforced with armor jackets and heavy ceramic plating, carrying boxy black guns firing thick fat shells. The magazines are red-banded, explosive rounds, capable of maiming you or any other physical enhanciles. They're banned as war crimes-not that anyone follows those rules anymore.
[X] Your combat robots have been reinforced with armor jackets and heavy ceramic plating, carrying boxy black guns firing thick fat shells. The magazines are red-banded, explosive rounds, capable of maiming you or any other physical enhanciles. They're banned as war crimes-not that anyone follows those rules anymore.
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[X] They wanted me here to replace their combat medic-and I am a trained bioengineer. We've all been inoculated against the chemical weapons I'm about to deploy. I unlimber the magnetic grenade launcher from my back, load in a magazine of (nerve gas/sleeping gas/riot agent) and start emptying the magazines. Even if they're wearing NBC gear, any damage to that will make them vulnerable. (Biotech Expert)
Biology is just very cool and pretty versatile.
Biology is just very cool and pretty versatile.
It actually doesn't, as a note. You didn't take technopathy or enhanced intelligence, so it just means you're a skilled and competent regular biotechnician or engineer, with a minor in applied sciences. On the other hand, it means you know the right people, people who are super-genius engineers or doctors. I.e. "you don't know how to make a regular person into a superhuman killing machine, but you can easily find someone who does."
[x] How did you prepare your machines for hostile engagements?
-[x] This is supposed to be quiet and non-lethal, a raid rather than an assault. They've been clad in sound-dampening fabrics and are loaded with shotguns and "riot control" submachine guns-electrical stun rounds. You're secretly glad-you don't want anyone to get hurt when it isn't necessary.
[x] I'm a combat engineer, of course. That means they gave me the finicky weapons that require constant monitoring to use right. Like this variable-lethality plasma caster. It's rare to find someone with the technical capabilities to make use of it and the physique to carry the 30-kilo blaster, but here I am. (Engineer)
-[x] This is supposed to be quiet and non-lethal, a raid rather than an assault. They've been clad in sound-dampening fabrics and are loaded with shotguns and "riot control" submachine guns-electrical stun rounds. You're secretly glad-you don't want anyone to get hurt when it isn't necessary.
[x] I'm a combat engineer, of course. That means they gave me the finicky weapons that require constant monitoring to use right. Like this variable-lethality plasma caster. It's rare to find someone with the technical capabilities to make use of it and the physique to carry the 30-kilo blaster, but here I am. (Engineer)
- Location
- ☯
[X] This is supposed to be quiet and non-lethal, a raid rather than an assault. They've been clad in sound-dampening fabrics and are loaded with shotguns and "riot control" submachine guns-electrical stun rounds. You're secretly glad-you don't want anyone to get hurt when it isn't necessary.
[X] I might be physically enhanced, but I've always been more of a leader than a frontline type. I order the AP32s in first to draw fire via my data glove and command them as I take out targets of opportunity. They're expendable, the team is not. And I'm skilled enough that I can manage them better than their hive-mind AI can. (Strategist)
[X] I might be physically enhanced, but I've always been more of a leader than a frontline type. I order the AP32s in first to draw fire via my data glove and command them as I take out targets of opportunity. They're expendable, the team is not. And I'm skilled enough that I can manage them better than their hive-mind AI can. (Strategist)
- Location
- Brazil
[X] Your combat robots have been reinforced with armor jackets and heavy ceramic plating, carrying boxy black guns firing thick fat shells. The magazines are red-banded, explosive rounds, capable of maiming you or any other physical enhanciles. They're banned as war crimes-not that anyone follows those rules anymore.
[X] I might be physically enhanced, but I've always been more of a leader than a frontline type. I order the AP32s in first to draw fire via my data glove and command them as I take out targets of opportunity. They're expendable, the team is not. And I'm skilled enough that I can manage them better than their hive-mind AI can. (Strategist)
[X] I might be physically enhanced, but I've always been more of a leader than a frontline type. I order the AP32s in first to draw fire via my data glove and command them as I take out targets of opportunity. They're expendable, the team is not. And I'm skilled enough that I can manage them better than their hive-mind AI can. (Strategist)
Cornuthaum
Be kind to each other.
- Location
- Austria
- Pronouns
- He/Him
How did you prepare your machines for hostile engagements?
[x] Your machines are running 'clean,' white plastic plating and exposed servos. They're using standard security weapons-solid-core ammunition, good against soft targets and against robots with good enough aim. You're not expecting too much trouble here, but you want firepower in case that happens.
Business is business. And sometimes, in this business, people die.
How are you going to approach this engagement?
[x] Back in Grenada, I was point man for a Ranger team. The gun in my hands is familiar from those days-a special forces Varigun-with settings from 'plain old bullets' to 'mini-rockets' to plasma flashbangs and 'sonic riot control.' I switch it to (high-explosive swarmers/5-millimeter slugs/nonlethal riot control) and open up on the Syndicate soldiers. (Ex-Military)
Depending on what happened in the world of Cowls, and when the current engagement is taking place, this might well enough be the USA overthrowing the government of Grenada in 1983. Either way, I think that the tools of the trade combine extremely well with being Swole Porter, and indeed it also means knowing people who know people, either because you fought with them, or just fought them. One way or another, ex-mil means contacts.
[x] Your machines are running 'clean,' white plastic plating and exposed servos. They're using standard security weapons-solid-core ammunition, good against soft targets and against robots with good enough aim. You're not expecting too much trouble here, but you want firepower in case that happens.
Business is business. And sometimes, in this business, people die.
How are you going to approach this engagement?
[x] Back in Grenada, I was point man for a Ranger team. The gun in my hands is familiar from those days-a special forces Varigun-with settings from 'plain old bullets' to 'mini-rockets' to plasma flashbangs and 'sonic riot control.' I switch it to (high-explosive swarmers/5-millimeter slugs/nonlethal riot control) and open up on the Syndicate soldiers. (Ex-Military)
Depending on what happened in the world of Cowls, and when the current engagement is taking place, this might well enough be the USA overthrowing the government of Grenada in 1983. Either way, I think that the tools of the trade combine extremely well with being Swole Porter, and indeed it also means knowing people who know people, either because you fought with them, or just fought them. One way or another, ex-mil means contacts.
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notthepenguins
Neither Spherical Nor Frictionless
- Pronouns
- He/She/They
Well, time to vote. Since Strategist and Martial Artist, my two favored, are doin fine, throwing some votes in for ex-military instead to try to get in as a third.
[x] This is supposed to be quiet and non-lethal, a raid rather than an assault. They've been clad in sound-dampening fabrics and are loaded with shotguns and "riot control" submachine guns-electrical stun rounds. You're secretly glad-you don't want anyone to get hurt when it isn't necessary.
[x] Back in Grenada, I was point man for a Ranger team. The gun in my hands is familiar from those days-a special forces Varigun-with settings from 'plain old bullets' to 'mini-rockets' to plasma flashbangs and 'sonic riot control.' I switch it to (high-explosive swarmers/5-millimeter slugs/nonlethal riot control) and open up on the Syndicate soldiers. (Ex-Military)
[x] This is supposed to be quiet and non-lethal, a raid rather than an assault. They've been clad in sound-dampening fabrics and are loaded with shotguns and "riot control" submachine guns-electrical stun rounds. You're secretly glad-you don't want anyone to get hurt when it isn't necessary.
[x] Back in Grenada, I was point man for a Ranger team. The gun in my hands is familiar from those days-a special forces Varigun-with settings from 'plain old bullets' to 'mini-rockets' to plasma flashbangs and 'sonic riot control.' I switch it to (high-explosive swarmers/5-millimeter slugs/nonlethal riot control) and open up on the Syndicate soldiers. (Ex-Military)
- Location
- Australia
A quick announcement, FYI;
In future, posts that contain substantive effort (in the form of analysis posts, write-ins, meaningful discussion, and the like that take considerable effort to write) will bring bonuses to the table. These bonuses will, at least right now, take the form of additional dice in your dicepools when players are asked to roll. This... will probably help you a great deal.
As a sidenote, your analysis doesn't necessarily have to be correct; we're not going to penalize you for getting things wrong. That'll just naturally arise. Just putting in the honest effort is good enough.
For now, we aren't rolling dice, but you'll see the effects this will have by the end of the prologue.
One of the things MJ and I are trying to do with this quest involves experimenting with some popular quest mechanics to see what works. You've probably seen this before if you've played or read Panopticon; I don't believe vote weighting was something people used a lot prior to Panopticon, but it worked to great effect there.
The two of us have been trying to figure out ways to reward people for making substantive posts like the two quoted above for a couple of hours now. There's two things we want to do by rewarding them; we want to encourage people to continue making substantive posts, and we want to reward you for putting in the effort. This is the best compromise we could come up with; a simple, direct reward that nonetheless people will likely really want to get.
I considered using a different system, wherein people would build up a score of 'analysis points' for making substantive posts, and could later choose to spend those posts to obtain a variety of rewards, ranging from character sheets to participating in sidestories. That's both overly complicated and messy, though, so MJ beat me over the head until I realized it was a bad idea. But he can't stop me talking about it!
Hopefully, everyone enjoys this system and finds it beneficial both for the quest and for your continued participation in such.
The two of us have been trying to figure out ways to reward people for making substantive posts like the two quoted above for a couple of hours now. There's two things we want to do by rewarding them; we want to encourage people to continue making substantive posts, and we want to reward you for putting in the effort. This is the best compromise we could come up with; a simple, direct reward that nonetheless people will likely really want to get.
I considered using a different system, wherein people would build up a score of 'analysis points' for making substantive posts, and could later choose to spend those posts to obtain a variety of rewards, ranging from character sheets to participating in sidestories. That's both overly complicated and messy, though, so MJ beat me over the head until I realized it was a bad idea. But he can't stop me talking about it!
Hopefully, everyone enjoys this system and finds it beneficial both for the quest and for your continued participation in such.